Aug 2, 2021; Tokyo, Japan; Angelina Melnikova (ROC) on the floor during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre. (Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images)
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And a backstabbery-free Ides of March to you, too.
Speaking of backstabbery, while the U.S. withdrew and then reinstated aid to Ukraine this week, 12 Russian athletes were approved to compete internationally by the FIG under a neutral flag. One was 2020 Olympic gold medalist Angelina Melnikova.
Per both The Gymternet and Scott Bregman of the Olympic Channel on this week’s College and Cocktails episode by the GymCastic team, Melnikova’s reinstatement came as a surprise because she trains at a military sports club, and the FIG’s own ad hoc rules seem to prohibit that tie to the Russian military. Melnikova’s Tokyo teammate Viktoria Listunova was not granted neutral status even though she does not train at a military club. Listunova has, however, appeared at pro-war rallies in Russia and has been used in Russian propaganda during the war.
This seems like a politically dicey time to be reinstating Russian athletes — even with neutral status — but it’s entirely possible that it will always be politically dicey even if Russia and Ukraine are no longer actively at war. But it’s giving big choosing-sides energy on the part of the FIG, which is supposed to be neutral itself (insert big sitcom laugh track).
Et tu, Brute?
Other gym news
Balance Beam Situation has your schedule and links for NCAA Week 11, and, of course, the GIFs.
GymCastic this week was a listener commission about Olympic team selection if every athlete from a particular quad was at their peak during Olympic trials. It’s a really interesting listen.
The Gymternet has the results from the Baku World Cup (Chusovitina vault GOLD!) and Gymnix.
Five at The IX: Jordyn Wieber
Jordyn Wieber, Arkansas’ head coach, gave an interview that aired on the Razorbacks’ Hogs+ YouTube Channel. She talks about her life and career to this point.
